How to Jumpstart Your Outsourcing Goals in 2017

How to Jumpstart Your Outsourcing Goals in 2017

It’s a new year, and that means plenty of goal-setting for entrepreneurs everywhere. One of those goals should be for you to do less instead of more. Using the momentum of the first few days of the new year can help you reach your outsourcing goals. Read on to learn more about how you can accomplish this.

Delegate More and Meet Your Outsourcing Goals this Year

Too many entrepreneurs make the mistake of trying to do things all on their own. This could cost you, since everyone has the same 24 hours within a day. If you spend too many of yours working on projects that could be handled effectively by someone else, you’re limiting your earning potential. This is why you should set outsourcing goals to begin with.

Figure Out What You’re Actually Doing

It all starts with an inventory of where you’re at. Keep a log of your week for one five-day working period. Write down everything you do and how long it takes you. Yes, this can seem tedious, but it can also help you identify where you’re wasting time. Five hours scheduling social media posts? Discoveries like this can help you get started by identifying the right person to help you. Tally up all the time spent on tasks to figure out your leaks.

Figure Out What You Hate Doing

Everyone has those tasks they just hate. For me, it’s updating my website. It’s the worst way to spend my time because it takes hours and I never get it quite right, leaving me frustrated and having to hire someone anyways. Don’t guilt yourself into “Oh, but I really should be able to learn this and figure it out.” While that might be true, it’s just not worth it: hire a professional.

Start Small and Build Up

If you’re new to outsourcing, even handing over three hours a week can seem terrifying. You don’t have to outsource everything in order to see the benefits from it. Even just passing on a handful of tasks can help you see the value. Plus, you’ll build trust with someone when you start small and make an effort to grow it from there.

There’s no doubt that every person has some hesitation about paying another individual to be in the business. It’s scary to give up control, particularly if you’re not sure how this will contribute to your revenue. However, in the big picture, you should be focused on activities that generate revenue when it comes to the time you spend in the business.

Administrative tasks, or tasks that you hate doing, are not a good use of your time. They are the obvious choice to outsource.

When you do decide to bring someone in to help you, interview the person. Get references. Then make sure you give it a good college try. You might not see a big difference right away- it’s normal for it to take a few weeks just to get used to one another. After that point, though, you should be seeing traction. Give the virtual assistant a chance to show their value. As the client, be open to getting some feedback about how you can make things easier, too.

Outsourcing doesn’t have to mean you’re all in. You have to find a formula that works for you. The good news is that now is the perfect time for your outsourcing goals.

Laura Pennington burned out teaching 7th grade in Baltimore City and realized that traditional education was not for her in the midst of pursuing her PhD in public policy. She launched a freelance writing and virtual assistant career that allows her to work from home on her own time, teaching others how to build at-home businesses and providing content and strategy for major companies like Microsoft. She is a soon-to-be military spouse who has moved four times in seven years with her Navy man. She is a former competitive tap dancer and enjoys spending time with her cats and reading books like a good nerd should.